Green Pistachio Muffins (Green Pistachio Muffins)

Ingredients:

160g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp freshly-grated nutmeg
1 tsp freshly-grated lemon zest
75g pistachio nuts, finely chopped (use a food processor)
100g butter
125g granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp rum extract
a few drops of green food colouring
120ml whole milk
1 tsp cider vinegar
60g pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped

Method:

In a large bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest and finely-chopped pistachios.

In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly to combine after each addition. Finally beat in the vanilla extract, rum extract and a couple of drops of green food colouring.

Add 1/4 of the dry ingredients and the vinegar to the creamed mixture, followed by 1/4 of he milk. Continue in this fashion (alternating flour and milk) until the flour mix and milk have been incorporated into the batter (as with all muffin batters take care not to over-mix).

Spoon the batter into 12 well-greased muffin cups, then sprinkle over the coarsely-chopped pistachios.

Transfer to an oven pre-heated to 210°C. Immediately reduce the oven temperature to 180°C and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre emerges cleanly.

Allow to cool in the tins for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool further. Serve warm.

Find more St Patrick's Day Recipes Here.